Uncomfortable situation for Zambrano, Edmonds?

Jim Edmonds' anticipated arrival in Chicago drew positive responses from most corners of the clubhouse.

One notable corner was quiet, however.

"No comment," said ace pitcher Carlos Zambrano, who said he'd talk when he next pitches, on Saturday.

That's understandable. Back in July 2004, Zambrano hit Edmonds with a pitch in the first inning at Wrigley Field. In the fourth, Edmonds hit a homer and admired his drive a little too long for Zambrano's liking.

Zambrano struck out Edmonds in the sixth and did a little finger-wagging. In the eighth, Scott Rolen homered off Zambrano, who then drilled Edmonds and was ejected.

If it takes Zambrano a little time to warm up to Edmonds, whom the Cubs signed Wednesday night, others seemed excited about the prospect of having an eight-time Gold Glover on their side.

"It's a comfort," said pitcher Jason Marquis, a teammate of Edmonds in St. Louis from 2004-06. "With (Felix) Pie in center, we felt comfortable out there, and Reed Johnson the same. But this is a guy who adds a different presence in the lineup as well.

"It was definitely fun watching him making catches and throwing runners out. I think he should be able to do the same thing over here.

"Jimmy gets great reads on balls. He has great instincts. He's good at reading pitches and location and using that to his advantage."

Second baseman-outfielder Mark DeRosa also gave his approval.

"Another veteran presence in our clubhouse," DeRosa said. "A left-handed bat with power. A guy who has done it for a long time on a great ballclub and who has won a world championship, something not a lot of guys in this clubhouse can say. He's always been a guy I've admired from afar."

Bullpen better: The Cubs' bullpen entered Wednesday having not given up a run in five straight games. That's the third time in the last seven years the bullpen has held teams scoreless that long.

Manager Lou Piniella had high praise for Michael Wuertz, who worked 3 scoreless innings Tuesday. It was only the second time Wuertz had pitched 3 innings.

"He threw well last night," Piniella said. "Last night was awfully impressive. He threw strikes, got both his fastball and breaking ball over, gave us 3 really, really good innings of baseball. It's really nice to see."

The bullpen streak ended when Kerry Wood allowed a run in the ninth.